The Flower of the Fruit

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:1-4

Fruit hmmm? I was in a bible study class a few months ago, learning about the book of John, verse by verse. We were in the 8th month of the 1 x week class, just beginning chapter 15. After our teaching pastor went over the above passage, a guy about my age sitting near me asked, “Who eats the fruit?” Well first, I was totally thrown by the question, having never even considered the fruits of the spirit being eaten. Second, I was surprisingly refreshed by the honest curiosity of his question. Even if I wondered the same thing, there is no way I would have had the nerve to ask it in front of 60-80 people. Kudos to that gentleman, because I found the question to be quite thought provoking.

Of course our teacher was a little thrown as well, but he answered very respectfully, and further explained what the fruits of the spirit are. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control are the fruits which we bear when we abide in our Lord. But for a few days, I kept chewing on the idea of eating the fruit. Anytime I recall learning about the fruits of the spirit, the emphasis was on producing them. The Holy Spirit helps us produce them the closer we walk with God. This is a beautiful thing. It is an important aspect of maturing in faith. Still, this new concept of ‘eating’ the fruit led me to wonder, are they also consumed? If so, who consumes them? Having never imagined these intangible qualities actually being something as tangible as a fruit, my mind found its way to a flower. Every living thing that bears fruit begins as a flower. Apples, zucchini, strawberries, peanuts, and pears, all begin as a uniquely beautiful blossom. Unlike the resulting fruit which is consumed, this blossom gives life to the fruit. Its qualities are less quantifiable, and more sensual. Flowers influence our atmosphere with color and fragrance. Isn’t that what the fruits of the spirit do as well? People who radiate them influence the atmosphere around us by bringing glimpses of Heaven down to earth. They paint the room with love, joy, peace, and patience, and give off an aroma of gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Anyone in their presence is then given the opportunity to ‘consume’ or bask in them. Can you think of anyone who fills a room in this way? I can think of a couple, and I didn’t always know, but I do now, that it is the loveliness of Christ in them that I’m drawn to.

Who doesn’t relish in the experience of being in the presence of someone who radiates even just a sliver of the atmosphere of Heaven? I do. But if I’m at all honest with myself, I have to ask, how often am I giving off this heavenly aroma? How often am I a gardenia, sharing a sweet fragrance you can’t help but notice? Not often enough. Not often enough that I would come to anyone’s mind when thinking of someone who paints the room with joy and gives off an aroma of gentleness. As much as I am drawn to the fruit of others, and at times rely on them, I have to remember that the only way to find true fulfillment is to work on developing them in myself, allowing the Spirit to be my guide. I suppose this is why I only recall learning about producing the fruits, and not consuming them. We are to produce and offer them, but not to rely upon them for life. The true sustenance I need comes only from the Vine. As much as each day can be wonderfully flavored by being in the midst of others who bear fruit, we need only to remain in Him for our daily bread. Perhaps like a flower, our sweet aroma will draw in another, who will then join us in the vine, becoming another branch that finds its daily nourishment from the One true source of life.

So let’s go and be gardenias and fill the air around us with the sweet scent of Christ!